Special and General Relativity

This lecture introduces the concepts of special and general relativity. It starts by discussing Maxwell's equations and Lorentz symmetries, leading to Einstein's proposal in 1905. The presentation then covers the relativity of simultaneity and Minkowski space. The geometric representation of special relativity on a 4-dimensional non-Euclidean space is explained. The lecture also delves into general relativity, highlighting the conflict with Newton's theory of gravity and the equivalence principle. It explores how matter influences the geometry of space-time, with particles moving on geodesic paths. The dynamical nature of space-time geometry and the impact of matter content are also discussed.